Meaning of the word "a language is a dialect with an army and a navy" in English
What does "a language is a dialect with an army and a navy" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.
a language is a dialect with an army and a navy
US /ə ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ ɪz ə ˈdaɪ.ə.lekt wɪð ən ˈɑːr.mi ənd ə ˈneɪ.vi/
UK /ə ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ ɪz ə ˈdaɪ.ə.lekt wɪð ən ˈɑː.mi ənd ə ˈneɪ.vi/
Phrase
A sociolinguistic adage pointing out that the difference between a language and a dialect is often based on political and military power rather than linguistic criteria.
Example:
•
The linguist Max Weinreich popularized the saying that a language is a dialect with an army and a navy.
•
When discussing why some regional speeches are called languages while others are not, people often quote that a language is a dialect with an army and a navy.